"Doctor Elena, the patient on bed 3 in - " the nurse reported to a tired doctor tending to one patient as the nurse approached the doctor and help her in tending to the patient.
"Okay, you continue here I'll head there." Elena said as she handed some of the items she held to the nurse before listing off a more things the nurse should do for the current patient they were tending to. As she finished instructing the nurse, Elena finally left for the other patient.
The hospital was short staff, but Elena didn't mind too much, complaining about how short the staff was wouldn't make the situation better, she was content that no major accident or a surge of patient happened during the time the hospital was still short staffed.
For the whole day, Elena tended to numerous patients, taught med students, and helped the nurses tend to other patients, and even go to surgeries. She had been busy the whole day, to the point she had forgotten to take a break or have lunch, all she did was tend to the numerous patients in the hospital.
"Thank you for your hard work today, Doctor Elena." A young nurse said as they watch Elena clock out. "See you tomorrow, Doctor Elena." said another nurse as Elena simply smiled at the nurses and nodded as she left the hospital. "Doctor Elena must have been really tired..." said one of the nurses as Elena were no longer visible.
Elena walked towards her car, putting on her headphones as she softly hummed the music she was listening to, and as she got into her car for a moment, she rested her head on the steering wheel as she closed her eyes, focusing on the song playing with her headphones. She was taking the moment to unwind, slowly relaxing her tense body from working nonstop for the whole day.
With her muscle no longer tense and her whole body now off work mode, she starts her car and drives home.
Elena now at home, despite being tired took a bath and changed out of her work clothes, and plop on to the sofa, ordering food as she turned on her Smart TV playing "Take the Journey" of Honkai: Star Rail, one of the few games Elena plays persistently with many of the game's song being her favorite.
She played Honkai: Star Rail for an hour, as "Take the Journey" plays on repeat. She could have watch the news or regular tv shows, but she rarely ever uses her TV for that purpose, as she had gotten the habit of getting news from her coworkers and friends.
Having her fill of food and game, Elena cleaned up the table as she moved to her bedroom. Laying down on her bed, she stares at the ceiling recalling her work for the day while humming.
Thinking about things that she could have done better, how to do these things more proficiently and effectively without wasting time.
Elena kept thinking on how to be a better doctor, but as she kept thinking about it, she couldn't help but think about the lives she could've saved, the kid who had cancer, the old man who watch his wife slowly die, and many more lives she couldn't save in the past.
As her thoughts drifted from how to improve as a doctor to being unable to do anything to help even as a doctor. She stopped humming for a moment and took in the silence for a few seconds, as she hummed a different tone softly.
It had become her habit to hum random tones or songs that reflect her mood, or whenever she's alone. If time had allowed, she would have love to continue chasing her dream, to create music that others could relate to, to lift up their moods, soothe their soul, and just be able to use her voice to express not only her emotions but use it for others.
Elena turned the lights off and went to sleep, preparing herself for another tiring day at the hospital tomorrow.
As she opened her eyes, she slowly got ready to go the hospital.
Arriving at the hospital, Elena was greeted by a shocking scene.
The hospital was full of patients, far fuller compared to yesterday.
"Docter Elena, please help!" said one of the nurses rushing about. Elena nodded as she went to her office and shifted to work mode, as clearly something major had happened with how much patients there are and how severe some of injuries they had. It was like a war had suddenly erupted.
After tending to some patients with severe to lethal injuries, she took a moment to asked one of the nurses as to what had happened for there to be so many patients with more than half having quite the severe injuries.
Listening to the nurse tell what happened, she found out that a bomb exploded near the highway, leading to numerous accidents and the worse of it all, it led to one of the buildings near the highway to crumble.
Learning the reason as to why there was so many patients, Elena put other thoughts aside and purely focused on treating as many severely injured patients as possible.
Treating one patient after another, recording the time of death, saving one life just for another to die, and going back to treating another one.
There were just too many patients.
Even when Elena was allowed to go home, she knew that if she did, she would regret it, and the hospital was too short staffed. If she leaves, it will put more pressure on others.
Elena kept working the whole day, even working relentlessly even through the night. Sometimes going to the bathroom, to take a moment for herself before going back out immediately and drawn out the cries of the death of important people, cries from pain or injuries.
She focused only on treating as many patients as she could, and it had been 4 whole days of straight work. She had not slept at all, ate small as she moved, and did everything as she could.
Thanks to her dedication and commitment, the work had clearly lessen and she could now finally rest.
Elena slowly walked out of the operation room, talking to the people connected to the person they had just operated.
"Mrs.----, you don't have to worry. Mr.---- is fully stable and safe, all he needs now is rest." Elena said softly as she smiled towards the relieved crying wife.
after 4 days of working, Elena finally got back to her office to rest for a moment.
As she entered her office, her vision became blurry. She knew what was happening, it was inevitable with how often she pushed her body, especially today. Elena tried to get to her sofa, but she had no more strength and collapse on the floor.
She had fully burned her life out, and as a doctor she felt it and understood it more clearly.
All Elena Nanase could think at the moment, is how she hoped whoever planted that Bomb was caught, to all she had treated recovered, to apologize for not being able to save others, and how she wished she could have chased her other dream..